AW Photo Contest

Photography students from Tri City area high schools competed in a photo contest judged by photography professionals from the Area-Wide Photography Advisory Committee. The categories were: People, Places, and Things. Student could enter photos at either the basic editing or advanced editing level.

Winners for basic editing were:
People: First place - Emily Butler (11th grade, Southridge)
Second place - Kayla Hutchings (10th grade, Southridge)

Places: First place - Brittany Evans (10th grade, Kennewick) Second place (tied)- Tyler Bower (10th grade, Southridge) and Hayllie Ward (12th grade, Southridge)
Things: First place - Roy Castillo (10th grade, Southridge)

Second place (tied) - Abrianan Monroy (10th grade, New Horizons), Joaquin Moreno (9th grade, Chiawana)

Winners for advanced editing were:
People: First place - Israel Maldonado (12th grade, Kamiakin)
Second place - Reed Draper (11th grade, Kamiakin)

Things: First place - Ben Cabrera (11th grade, New Horizons)
Second place (tied) - Joshua Alvarez (11th grade, Kamiakin), Josephine McCoy (12th grade, Kamiakin)
Best of Show - Emily Butler, Southridge

Kennewick High School DECA - ON TO STATE!

Over 75 Kennewick High School DECA Members competed at this year’s Area VI DECA Conference on January 29, 2010. This year’s conference was held at the Tri-Cities Convention Center and was judged by volunteers from the local business community. In order to compete, all students were required to take a 100 question, timed exam, as well as present a role play to the judges.

The following students placed in the top 6 for their test scores:
Shanelle Eilers, Zack Tamburello, James McKinnis, John Sturgis, Natali Magana, Maria Rodriguez, Valentine Furniss, Cody Gadeberg, Jose Magana, Inna Korotkova, Thayne Whebey, AJ Hill, Fernando Ayala, Thomas Kennan, Richard Hernandez, Laura Marquina, John Penney, Casey Brush, Taylor Wilder, Deborah Ramirez, Yvette Aguilar, Brenda Guzman, Victor Zuniga, Chris Bojorquez.

The following students placed in the top 6 for their role play scores:
Dana Meyer, Lindsey Sullivan, James McKinnis, John Sturgis, Garrett Wilz, Tory Osmundson, Kenya Olivera, Suzana Djuric, Natali Magana, Maria Rodriguez, Valentine Furniss, David Salwegter, Thayne Whebey, AJ Hill, Fernando Ayala, Chris Lamm, Shelbi Wood, Katia Johnson, Meva Beganovic, Laura Marquina, Geyny Mendoza, Eryn Nelson, Casey Brush, Yvette Aguilar, Brenda Guzman, Victor Zuniga, Chris Bojorquez.

The following students placed in the top 6 overall for their event and are eligible to compete at the Washington DECA State Career Development Conference in Bellevue, WA on March 4-6, 2010:James McKinnis, John Sturgis, Natali Magana, Maria Rodriguez, Valentine Furniss, David Salwegter, Cody Gadeberg, Thayne Whebey, AJ Hill, Fernando Ayala, Chris Lamm, Katia Johnson, Meva Beganovic, Laura Marquina, Geyny Mendoza, Eryn Nelson, Casey Brush, Yvette Aguilar, Brenda Guzman, Victor Zuniga, Chris Bojorquez.

Kamiakin Food and Fitness Students Learn About Healthy Snacks

Kamiakin Food and Fitness class ended the semester by reviewing healthy snacks with Sam Shick, district Food Service Director. This two day event began with a discussion on reading food labels, proper portion size, nutrition dense foods (eating around the rainbow), daily caloric needs and planning a healthy and convenient snack. Day two was preparation and judging day. The students went right to work and prepared their snacks for judging.

The teams of students prepared a presentation plate and enough small samples for everyone in the class to have a taste. The competition was close with two judges tied and the third judge determining a winner by only 3 points. Comments from the students included, “It was fun” and “couldn’t have been better.” “I enjoyed the experience very much” supported the success of the students! We will invite Sam - The Food Dude - back next semester.

ASL Student Host Party for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Kennewick High School first and second year American Sign Language students planned and implemented a Christmas party for local deaf and hard of hearing children and their families last month. Activities for the kids included cookie decorating, face painting, craft projects, and a bouncy castle.

Students provided refreshments and games that all ages could enjoy. Tabitha Troutman was the signing Santa and Jacob Miller, Nicole Killinger, and Nikki Slate were Santa’s helpers. The event took place at Pasco First Christian Church and Pasco Jaycees generously donated gifts for Santa to give the children.

Kamiakin FFA Students Meet Congressman Doc Hastings

The Annual Pasco Agriculture and Trade Show was held at TRAC January 5th and 6th. Its purpose is to inform individuals in the agricultural community about the newest federal and state policies related to agriculture and how those policies will affect farmers in our area. It is also an avenue to distribute information about new techniques that are being used to improve efficiency of operation and address environmental concerns.

A series of guest speakers participated, including Congressman Doc Hastings as a key presenter. The Congressman discussed the new administration’s stance on the removal of the Columbia and Snake River dams and what his office was doing to prevent that from happening.

Kamiakin Agriculture and FFA students were invited to participate and have a booth where they could showcase the different projects they are working on at school. Both individual projects and FFA projects at Kamiakin were showcased. Students presented their program of activities for National Chapter (FFA). The students created three Tri-fold posters, one for each of the three development areas and then listed and had pictures of all the projects that we do within the chapter. Samples of different projects were shared representing metal art, centerpieces, and our stuffed fish (used in the teaching program) which was displayed on the table in front of the posters.

Kamiakin High School Agriculture and FFA students attending the Pasco Ag Show have an opportunity to meet Congressman Doc Hastings. Picture are: Congressman Doc Hastings, Kristina Lizotte, Junior, Kayla Emineth, Sophomore, Emily Perry, Junior, and Rachelle Lizotte, Freshman.

Kamiakin Students Earn 1st Place in International Competition

Three Kamiakin DECA students have successfully taken on international competition in a business simulation called Virtual Business. These students placed 1st in the Virtual Business H&R Block Personal Finance challenge by testing their skills at managing their personal financial wealth. They also placed 2nd in the Virtual Business Retailing Challenge by testing their skills at managing a retail convenience store. The students had to make marketing decisions as well as many personal finance decisions and upload their scores to compete against others in the region as well as the nation. Team “Minority Report”, which consists of Taran Patel, Brandon En’Wezoh and Ronish (Billy) Sharma, competed against thousands of teams spending many hours running their simulation as precisely as possible.

The next step for these enterprising students is to compete against other top teams from around the world in a round robin format tournament at the International Career and Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Team Minority Report will be competing for cash and scholarship opportunities for up to $50,000 as well as shadowing an H&R Block executive. In addition, the top three teams will receive a $2,500 classroom grant for their school.
Congratulations to these students and we wish them the best of luck!

CORE 24 - Proposed State Graduation Requirements

The State Board of Education has been working on new state graduation requirments known as CORE 24. The “core” of CORE 24 is a set of graduation requirements that the Board believes will prepare students intentionally for whatever option they choose after high school.
CORE 24 represents the essential high school graduation requirements all students should have to prepare for life after high school.

CORE 24 is based on the following principles:
1) Equip everyone: Prepare ALL students for life after high school—in gainful employment, an apprenticeship or postsecondary education.
2) Expect more: Align requirements to meet the increased expectations of the 21st century workforce.
3) Provide flexibility: Allow students to customize their education, creating relevance to their interests.
4) Give focus: Encourage students to align course work to achieve their future career goals.
5) Plan ahead: Emphasize the High School and Beyond Plan to offer students personalized guidance to prepare them for work, postsecondary education, or both.
6) Start early: Prepare students to enter highschool and create opportunities to meet high school graduation requirements in middle school.

Under CORE 24, all students would be enrolled automatically in college and career ready courses that would keep all postsecondary college and career options open unless they chose to pursue a college emphasis or a career emphasis only.


Additional information may be found at the State Board of Education's web site: http://www.sbe.wa.gov/mhsd.htm

CORE 24 flyer: http://www.sbe.wa.gov/documents/Core24Final12-19-08_001.pdf